Effect of different low electric field conditions on the dielectric properties of Ehrlich tumor

Abstract

Studies of low electric fields (LEFs) effects on the permeability of the cell membrane are of great interest in molecular medicine. Electroendocytosis is a novel technique depends on using LEFs to incorporate macromolecules as anticancer drugs or genes into the cells. There are wide debates about the optimum electric conditions for electroendocytosis. In this article, Ehrlich tumor tissues were exposed to different LEFs voltages and frequencies in vitro. Dielectric properties before and after the exposure were determined. The results indicated that the exposed groups have significant high permittivity and conductivity compared to unexposed group, as well as having significant low impedance. The results indicated that dielectric measurements can be used to indicate the efficiency of electroendocytosis that as permittivity and conductivity of cell membranes increase, more molecules can passed into the cells. It was also indicated that, as the pulse amplitude increases, the LEFs influence increases, while changing pulse frequency has no obvious effect on dielectric properties of Ehrlich tumor.

Keywords::

• Low electric fields
• Electroendocytosis
• Dielectric properties
• Ehrlich tumor

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Prof. Dr. Youssef S. Youssef and Prof. Dr. Moustafa M. Mohamed for their help and support.

Declaration of Interest The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.